Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 have been abandoned by Microsoft, and users who are still running these operating systems have no choice but to upgrade to a newer version of Windows. Support for Windows 7 was initially dropped in January 2020, but the platform subsequently entered the extended security update phase, which Microsoft provides exclusively to paying customers.
After three years of ESU support, Windows 7 was officially retired in January this year, and Microsoft has decided to no longer provide updates and support for this operating system version.
As far as Windows 8.1 is concerned, Microsoft is taking a different tack because there is no ESU plan for this version of the operating system.
Although Windows 7 and 8.1 have stopped supporting, the latest StatCounter statistics show that these two operating systems still occupy an important position in the Windows field.
According to January data, Windows 10 is still the version with the largest market share in the Windows series, accounting for 68.64%. Followed by Windows 11, with a market share of 18.12%. We can see that Windows 11 adoption has been slower, which is not surprising. This is mainly because the software giant updated the system requirements so that only new devices can run Windows 11.
Windows 7 is currently running on 9.7% of computers, which is impressive even though this is an operating system that was launched in 2009 and abandoned by home users in 2020. Windows 8.1 accounted for 2.33% share.
Many users who are still using Windows 7 and 8.1 seem unconcerned about the security risks of using a version of Windows that is no longer supported. Although Microsoft has confirmed that both operating systems will continue to function normally, fixes and security patches will no longer be provided. This means users can use their computers as before, but may be at greater risk of data breaches.
As a reminder, Microsoft announced that it will end support for Windows 8.1 on January 10, 2023. Thereafter, technical assistance and software updates will no longer be provided. If you are still using a Windows 8.1 device, we recommend that you upgrade it to a newer, active, and supported version of Windows. If your device does not meet the technical requirements to run a later version of Windows, we recommend that you consider replacing it with a Windows 11-capable device. Microsoft's approach to Windows 8.1 is as described above.
Windows 7 is a popular operating system. Although Microsoft recommends buying new computers running Windows 11, many users still choose to continue using Windows 7. This is because they are very familiar with this version and it meets their needs. Although Windows 11 brings many new features and improvements, for some users, Windows 7 is still the best choice.
As far as Windows 8.1 is concerned, if the hardware requirements of this version are met, the possibility of smoothly upgrading to Windows 10 or Windows 11 is also very high.
\"Windows 10 is still available and will be supported until October 14, 2025. You can check if your current PC meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 10. If it does, you can purchase and download the full version Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro. You can also check with your retailer to see if they still offer Windows 10 for sale," Microsoft said.
Finally, one thing is clear: Killing off Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 is going to take longer than expected, especially due to the changes that the release of Windows 11 brings to the Windows world. The upgraded system requirements may keep many users stuck on their devices for a longer period of time, which also includes running an outdated operating system version.
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